Multi-game slot machines are cabinets that offer a menu of different games on one screen, so you can switch from a fruit-style reel game to a video slot or roulette without moving seat. This guide explains how they work in UK venues, how stake caps, RTP labels and duty apply when one box holds many games, and what the online equivalent looks like.
A multi-game slot machine is a single gaming cabinet that stores several games and lets you choose between them from a touchscreen menu. Instead of one fixed reel game, the same box might offer a classic fruit game, two or three video slots, a roulette game and a card game. The choice of games, the screen layout and sometimes the stake options change from game to game, but the machine itself stays in one legal category.
They are now the normal format for many UK gaming machines in adult gaming centres, bingo halls, betting shops and casinos, and digital multi-game machines also appear in pubs and clubs. They form one branch of the slot machine types on this site, defined by how games are delivered rather than by the theme or the reels.
Online, the idea looks different. A casino lobby is effectively a menu of thousands of games, but UK rules stop you from running more than one slot at once, a point covered further down.
From single-game cabinets to multi-game terminals
Older UK machines did one job. A pub fruit machine ran one reel game for its whole life, and if the landlord wanted something new, the machine or its reel glass and software were swapped. The shift came with screens and networked software. In quiz and skill-with-prizes machines, single-game cabinets were replaced by multi-game terminals in the early 2000s, some running 25 to 30 games, according to Wikipedia’s history of UK quiz machines (opens in a new tab), which names Maygay’s itbox among them.
Gaming machines followed the same path. Video cabinets made it cheap to add games, and server-based gaming lets an operator download, switch or remove titles across many machines without a site visit. Makers such as Reflex Gaming are known for digital Category C platforms, which bring the menu idea to pub machines.
How a multi-game slot machine works, step by step
Put money in. Cash, or a ticket under ticket-in ticket-out, goes onto the credit meter, which must be viewable as a money value. Debit and credit cards can’t be used to pay a gaming machine directly.
Pick a game from the menu. Each game’s rules and paytable must be available before you commit a stake.
Choose a stake from the options that game allows. The machine’s category caps the maximum, whichever game you choose.
Play. Each game cycle runs on its own; there is no autoplay.
Switch games if you like. Your credit stays on the meter and moves with you to the next title.
Collect. Larger wins must be offered for collection before they can go back into playable credit; on Category B4 and C machines that applies to wins over £10.
The category belongs to the machine, not to each game. A multi-game cabinet in a pub is a Category C or D machine, so every game on it is capped at a £1 stake and £100 prize, even if the same title has bigger limits elsewhere. The Gambling Commission’s gaming machine categories (opens in a new tab) table sets the figures below.
UK gaming machine categories that commonly hold multi-game content
How many machines a venue can have depends on its licence. Pubs have an automatic entitlement to two Category C or D machines; betting shops can site up to four machines from Categories B2 to D; adult gaming centres and bingo halls can make Category B3 and B4 machines up to 20% of their total. The full list is on our machine entitlements page. Category B and C machines are for adults aged 18 and over.
RTP on multi-game machines: one cabinet, several returns
Every Category B1 to B4 and C machine must display a theoretical target return to player. On a multi-game cabinet, that information is usually given per game in the help or info screen, because two games on the same machine can be set at different returns. No legal minimum RTP is set for any category, so the label is the only guide. The guide to reading a machine label shows where to look.
The difference between games matters more than it seems. The table uses illustrative RTPs, not figures from a real cabinet.
Average cost of 100 plays at £1 on two games on the same machine (illustrative)
Game on menu
RTP shown
Staked
Average cost
Game A
92%
£100
£8
Game B
88%
£100
£12
Game C
85%
£100
£15
On these numbers, choosing Game A over Game C halves the long-run cost of the same 100 plays. It doesn’t change what happens in a single session, which can swing far either way, but it is the one lever you control. For typical ranges, read payout percentages in the UK.
Some UK machines are compensated, meaning the payout can be influenced by previous play. The proposed technical standards would require a compensated game to say so, while random games show ‘THIS GAME IS RANDOM’. See compensated machines.
Machine Games Duty on multi-game machines
Players don’t pay Machine Games Duty; the venue or operator pays it on net takings. Multi-game machines have one special rule: the rate for the highest-rated game applies to all of that machine’s takings. GOV.UK’s page on how much Machine Games Duty you pay (opens in a new tab) sets out the bands.
Machine Games Duty rates
Rate
Applies when
Example
5% (lower)
Cost to play 20p or less and maximum prize £10 or less
Low-stake arcade machine
20% (standard)
Cost to play 21p to £5
Pub Category C or club B4 game
25% (higher)
Cost to play more than £5
Not applicable to current B–D stakes
A worked example: imagine a cabinet whose menu mixes a 10p game with a £5 top prize and a £1 game. On its own, the 10p game would fall into the 5% band. Because the machine also offers the £1 game, all its net takings, say £2,000 over a period, are taxed at 20%: £400 rather than £100. That is a cost for the operator, not you, but it helps explain why low-stake and higher-stake games are often kept on separate machines.
Technical standards and testing for multi-game machines
The Gambling Commission publishes separate technical standards for each category and for server-networked and downloadable games, covering features, notices and metering. Category B1, B2, B3 and B3A machines must also be tested by an approved independent test house. Each game added to a cabinet has to meet the standard for that machine’s category. See how machines are tested for the process.
Changes are coming. Under the Commission’s 2026 decisions, an interim ‘session’ standard takes effect on 30 March 2027 and the finalised standards on 30 June 2027. Trade press reports say new Category B machines will need player limit-setting and a display of elapsed time and net position, and new Category A to C machines must stop celebrating returns equal to or below the stake. Existing machines are reported to be exempt. We track the detail on the gaming machine technical standards page.
When a skill game sits next to a chance game
Multi-game terminals in pubs often carry quiz and other skill games, which are not gaming machines if the prize depends only on skill. The Gambling Commission’s guidance on skill with prizes machines is clear that one chance-based game changes everything: if any game in a group of skill games involves chance, the whole machine is a gaming machine and must meet the rules for its category. The test the Commission uses is set out on our skill with prizes machines page.
Multi-game slots online: why you can only play one at a time
An online casino offers far more games than any cabinet, but since 31 October 2021 UK-licensed sites must not provide any way to play more than one slot at the same time. The Commission’s summary of changes to its technical standards (opens in a new tab) set this out alongside the autoplay ban and the 2.5-second minimum spin. In 2025 the multiple-game ban was extended to other casino products.
That means split-screen play, where two or four slots spin side by side, isn’t available on UK sites even if the software supports it elsewhere. Each online slot is also bound by the slot game design rules and the £5 per spin limit for players aged 25 and over, or £2 for 18 to 24-year-olds.
Multi-game slot machines: pros, cons and who they suit
Advantages
Variety on one seat: reel games, video slots and table-style games.
Each game’s rules and paytable must be available before you stake.
You can choose the game with the highest RTP on the menu.
Category caps keep stakes and prizes bounded.
Drawbacks
RTPs can differ between games on the same cabinet.
Easy switching can stretch a session longer than planned.
Prizes are capped by category, unlike online slots.
Information screens can take several taps to find.
Multi-game machines suit adults who like variety and are willing to check each game’s information screen. If you know you tend to keep switching games to ‘find a lucky one’, set a time and money limit before you sit down. Practical methods are in the slot session limits guide.
Multi-game machine myths
Myth: switching games on a cabinet resets your luck. Fact: on a random game each play is independent; the last result doesn’t affect the next.
Myth: the most popular game on the menu pays best. Fact: popularity says nothing about RTP; the info screen does.
Myth: a cabinet that hasn’t paid for a while is due. Fact: see loose and tight slot machines for why ‘due’ machines are a myth.
Myth: bigger cabinets allow bigger prizes. Fact: the category sets the cap, whatever the screen size.
Where to play multi-game slots online in the UK
Online casinos are, in effect, very large multi-game menus, though you play one slot at a time. Game lists change, so search for a title before you register. All three offers below are for new customers aged 18+, and terms apply.
PlayOJO gives 80 free spins worth 10p each on Big Bass Bonanza with a first deposit of at least £10; there is no wagering, so winnings are paid in cash, and the offer is for new UK customers outside Northern Ireland. Coral’s deal gives 100 free spins at 10p on selected games after you deposit and bet £10 or more on slots between 1 October 2026 and 1 February 2027, with 48 hours to accept, 7 days to use and no wagering. Ladbrokes gives 50 free spins a day for 10 days (500 in total, 10p each) when you play £10 on slots, each day’s spins claimed by 23:59 and valid for 7 days, again with no wagering. Coral and Ladbrokes exclude some deposit methods such as PayPal, Skrill and prepaid cards, and as both are run by LC International Limited you may not be able to claim both.
Set limits before you play. The National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 is free, and GAMSTOP (opens in a new tab) lets you block all UK-licensed gambling sites.
Coral and Ladbrokes are both run by LC International Limited (Entain). If you already hold an account with one Entain brand, you may not be able to open a new account with another; check the terms before signing up.
Significant terms: 18+. New players only. Offer runs 01/10/2026 to 01/02/2027. Deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10+ on slot games to get 100 free spins (selected games, £0.10 each, 48 hrs to accept, valid 7 days). No wagering on free spin winnings. Deposits by Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the Coral reviewLicence: LC International Limited, UKGC account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New customers only, from 14/11/25 until further notice. Certain deposit methods excluded. Deposit and spend £10+ on slots for 50 free spins a day during the first 10 days after first deposit and registration (max 500, £0.10 each, selected games, claim before 23:59 each day, valid 7 days). No wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the Ladbrokes reviewLicence: LC International Limited, UKGC account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland). First deposit only. Minimum deposit £10. 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, £0.10 each. No wagering requirements; winnings paid in cash. Cannot be used with any other offer. Only available to players who arrive through the designated offer link. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the PlayOJO reviewLicence: Skill On Net Limited, UKGC account 39326. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Decide a budget before you play: plan a slot budget. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
What is a multi-game slot machine?
A multi-game slot machine is one gaming cabinet that offers several games from an on-screen menu, so you can switch between reel games, video slots and sometimes roulette or card games. The machine has one legal category, which sets the maximum stake and prize for every game on it. In a pub, that means Category C limits of £1 and £100. Our guide to UK slot machine categories lists every category and where it can be sited.
Do all games on a multi-game machine have the same RTP?
Not necessarily. Each game on a cabinet can be set to its own theoretical return, and the machine must display a target RTP for Category B1 to B4 and C machines, often per game in the info screen. Two games side by side might differ by several percentage points, which changes the long-run cost of play. No legal minimum RTP exists. Our guide on how to read a machine label shows where to find the figures.
Can a pub multi-game machine pay more than £100?
No. A pub machine is Category C or D, and Category C has a £1 maximum stake and a £100 maximum prize, whichever game on the menu you pick. Multi-game content doesn’t change the category. Bigger prizes are only possible on Category B machines in other venues, such as up to £500 on B3 in bingo halls and adult gaming centres. See what is the maximum prize on a pub fruit machine for details.
Why can’t I play two slots at once online?
Since 31 October 2021, the Gambling Commission’s remote technical standards have banned any feature that lets you play more than one slot at the same time on a UK-licensed site. The aim was to slow play and reduce the intensity of sessions, alongside the autoplay ban and the 2.5-second minimum spin. The ban was later extended to other casino products. Our page on slot game design rules covers the full set of changes.
How is duty worked out on a multi-game machine?
For Machine Games Duty, the rate for the highest-rated game on the machine applies to all of its takings. The rates are 5% for games costing 20p or less with a top prize of £10 or less, 20% for games costing 21p to £5, and 25% above £5. So a cabinet mixing a 10p game with a £1 game pays 20% on everything. The operator pays this, not the player. See our Machine Games Duty page.
Can I pay a multi-game machine by card?
Not directly. The Circumstances of Use Regulations 2007 stop gaming machines being designed to take debit or credit card payments, and mobile wallets are treated the same as the card. The government announced in May 2024 that it would lift the debit card ban once protections are in place, but that change was not in force at 21 October 2026. Venues may offer tickets or cash. Our page on cashless payments on machines explains the position.
Are multi-game machines compensated or random?
It depends on the game and category. Some UK machines, particularly Category C fruit machines, can use compensated payout models, where past play influences what is paid, while others are fully random. The proposed technical standards require random games to show ‘THIS GAME IS RANDOM’ and compensated games to say so. On a multi-game cabinet, check each game’s information screen. Our explainer on compensated machines shows how compensation works.
Who can play multi-game slot machines?
Only adults aged 18 and over can play Category B and C machines, which covers multi-game cabinets in pubs, clubs, bingo halls, adult gaming centres, betting shops and casinos. Category D machines have no statutory minimum age at present, although the government announced in May 2024 that cash-out Category D slot-style machines would become 18+; that offence was not in force at 21 October 2026. See how old you have to be to play slot machines.
Are multi-game machines in betting shops FOBTs?
Category B2 machines, often called fixed-odds betting terminals, are best known for electronic roulette, and whatever games a B2 cabinet offers, it can only be sited in betting shops, casinos and tracks with pool betting. Since 1 April 2019 a B2 game can take no more than £2 a play (down from £100), and the top prize remains £500. Betting shops may also have Category B3, C and D machines within their four-machine limit. Our page on Category B2 FOBT rules has the history.
Does switching games on a machine improve my chances?
No. On a random game every play is independent, so moving to another title on the menu doesn’t make a win more likely. What switching can change is the RTP, if the new game has a higher or lower figure. Choosing the game with the higher displayed return lowers your long-run average cost, though any single session can still lose. Our guide to slot machine odds explains why past results don’t predict the next.
Gambling can be addictive. Free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. Visit GamCare.org.uk and GamCare, or block yourself from all UK-licensed gambling sites with GAMSTOP.
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